Surgical apparatus with indicator

Abstract

An apparatus and system are disclosed for indicating relative positions of elements in a surgical apparatus. The indicating elements can include electrical circuitry that activates visual, audible or tactile indicators, thereby alerting the user that an event has occurred with respect to the instrument. In a circular anastomosis device, the indicator is preferably positioned at a proximal end of the device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A surgical stapling apparatus comprising: a housing having proximal and distal end portions;   a tubular shaft extending from said housing distal end portion, said tubular shaft having proximal and distal end portions;   a fastener carrying cartridge positioned at said tubular shaft distal end portion, said cartridge having a plurality of fasteners disposed in a circular array therein;   an anvil member disposed opposite said cartridge;   means for moving said anvil relative to said cartridge, said anvil moving means being at least partially disposed at said housing proximal end portion;   first and second electrical contact members disposed within said housing, at least one of said contact members being movable in response to movement of said anvil moving means;   an indicator disposed within said housing, said indicator being associated with a printed circuit board;   a voltage source disposed within said housing, said voltage source communicating with said electrical contacts and said indicator to activate said indicator upon movement of said anvil moving means; and   a safety mechanism associated with said housing for preventing undesired firing of the apparatus, wherein said indicator is activated upon movement of a portion of the apparatus which releases the safety mechanism.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said anvil moving means comprises an elongated member at least partially disposed within said housing. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said anvil moving means further comprises a rotatable member for moving said elongated member. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said rotatable member is disposed at the proximal end of said housing. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said indicator is disposed in said housing proximal end portion. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein when said fastener cartridge and said anvil member are spaced a predetermined distance from each other, said indicator is activated. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second electrical contacts are disposed in a switch. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said anvil moving means comprises a cam member having proximal and distal end portions and wherein proximal movement of said cam member causes the proximal end portion of said cam member to contact said switch, thereby activating said indicator. 
     
     
       9. In a surgical stapling apparatus having a housing, an anvil extending from a distal end of said housing, a cartridge containing a plurality of fasteners positioned opposite said anvil, said fasteners disposed in a circular array in said cartridge, and means for relatively moving said anvil and cartridge; the improvement comprising: means positioned in said housing and responsive to relative movement of said cartridge and anvil for indicating the relative movement of said cartridge and anvil to a predetermined position, said indicating means being connected to a voltage source, wherein at least a portion of said indicating means is associated with a printed circuit board and is at least partially disposed in a proximal end of said housing; and   a safety mechanism associated with said housing for preventing undesired firing of the apparatus, wherein said indicator means is activated upon movement of a portion of the apparatus which releases the safety mechanism.   
     
     
       10. An apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said indicating means comprises first and second electrical contacts adapted to come into contact upon sufficient movement of said moving means. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said moving means comprises an elongate slidable rod member. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said rod member is adapted to engage at least one said electrical contacts. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein at least one said electrical contacts is positioned within said housing. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said voltage source is entirely within said housing and is in electrical communication with said first and second contacts. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said first and second electrical contacts are disposed in a switch. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said moving means comprises a cam member having proximal and distal end portions and wherein proximal movement of said cam member causes the proximal end portion of said cam member to contact said switch, thereby activating said indicator. 
     
     
       17. A surgical stapling apparatus comprising: a housing having proximal and distal end portions;   a tubular shaft extending from said housing distal end portion, said tubular shaft having proximal and distal end portions;   a fastener carrying cartridge positioned at said tubular shaft distal end portion, said cartridge having a plurality of fasteners disposed in a circular array therein;   an anvil member disposed opposite said cartridge;   means for moving said anvil relative to said cartridge, said anvil moving means being at least partially disposed at said housing proximal end portion;   first and second electrical contact members disposed within said housing, at least one of said contact members being movable in response to movement of said anvil moving means;   an indicator at least partially disposed within said housing;   a voltage source at least partially disposed within said housing, said voltage source communicating with said electrical contacts and said indicator to activate said indicator upon movement of said anvil moving means; and   a safety mechanism associated with said housing for preventing undesired firing of apparatus, wherein said indicator is activated upon movement of a portion of said apparatus which releases said safety mechanism.   
     
     
       18. A surgical stapling apparatus comprising: a housing having proximal and distal end portions;   a tubular shaft extending from said housing distal end portion, said tubular shaft having proximal and distal end portions;   a fastener carrying cartridge positioned at said tubular shaft distal end portion, said cartridge having a plurality of fasteners disposed in a circular array therein;   an anvil member disposed opposite said cartridge;   means for moving said anvil relative to said cartridge, said anvil moving means being at least partially disposed at said housing proximal end portion;   first and second electrical contact members disposed within said housing, at least one of said contact members being movable in response to movement of said anvil moving means;   an indicator disposed within said housing;   a voltage source disposed within said housing, said voltage source communicating with said electrical contacts and said indicator to activate said indicator upon movement of said anvil moving means; and   a safety mechanism associated with said housing for preventing undesired firing of the apparatus, wherein said indicator is activated upon movement of a portion of the apparatus which releases the safety mechanism.   
     
     
       19. In a surgical stapling apparatus having a housing, an anvil extending from a distal end of said housing, a cartridge containing a plurality of fasteners positioned opposite said anvil, said fasteners disposed in a circular array in said cartridge, and means for relatively moving said anvil and cartridge; the improvement comprising: means positioned in said housing and responsive to relative movement of said cartridge and anvil for indicating the relative movement of said cartridge and anvil to a predetermined position, said indicating means being connected to a voltage source, wherein at least a portion of said indicating means is at least partially disposed in a proximal end of said housing; and   a safety mechanism associated with said housing for preventing undesired firing of the apparatus, wherein said indicator means is activated upon movement of a portion of the apparatus which releases the safety mechanism.